February 26th, arriving just a week after my birthday, brought with it an extraordinary gift: the chance to stand and walk again, thanks to Wandercraft’s Atalante X exoskeleton. This was a moment I had been eagerly anticipating for 119 days, ever since my last visit on October 30th, 2020.

The feeling of standing upright and moving independently is something I have deeply missed. It’s a yearning for a freedom that’s hard to describe. In my physical therapy, I recently achieved a personal best in independent squats. It was incredibly empowering to use my own strength. Feeling those long-inactive muscles reawaken filled me with a renewed sense of hope and possibility.

I cherish the memory of that feeling – the joy of movement, the taste of independence. I long for the day when I can once again experience that freedom and live life to the fullest. Every day, I dream of standing, walking, and simply moving without the constraints that have held me back. This experience gives me so much hope for the future.

My sincere gratitude goes to Wandercraft and the entire team: Nicolas Simon, Jean-Louis Constanza, Matthieu Masselin, Joshua Breighner, PT, DPT, Rachel Higdon PT, DPT, CBIS, and all who made this possible.